Conduit connecting device



Aug. 8, 1950 H. w. KINANDER 2,518,426

comma CONNECTING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

without the conductors.

Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONDUIT CONNECTING DEVICE Harold W. Kinander, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Simple't Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 29, 1946, Serial No. 658,081

2 Claims.

. The present invention relates to connectors of pi y wound metal strips having their edges overlapped and interlocked to form a threaded tubular wall. The usual practice in connecting an end of cable of this type to the housing wall 'of a conduit box, for example, is to use an assembly comprised of a connector part having a.

threaded end insertable through an opening in the housing wall to receive a clamping nut at the inner side of the wall. Externally of the box, the connector part mounts facilities, usually consisting of a clamping bar and two bolts, for clamp ingly receiving the end of the conduit. Conventionally, an assembly of this character comprises at least five parts all of which must be separately manufactured and then assembled. Moreover,

several of the parts require drilling and thread- .1;

ing operations in the manufacture thereof.

Further, and due to the relatively large number of parts making up an assembly of this type, it is a time consuming task to use the assembly in making a conduit connection at a conduit box. v

f CO

Hence, such assemblies are relatively expensive" to manufacture and install.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved connecting device of the character described which is relatively in- I expensive to manufacture and install and yet the parts of the present improved connecting device are arranged to take advantage of the threaded conduit structure in connecting an end of a conduit length to a wall.

In accordance with still another object of the invention, facilities are provided in the connector parts for centering the cable end relative to an oversize conduit box opening of standard diameter and for preventing the two parts from becoming disassembled after they are assembled to provide a connection between a conduit end and a conduit box wall.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a connecting device of the character described which may be employed to make an angled connection between a conduit end and a conduit box wall.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the use of two of the present improved connecting devices to connect the ends of a conductor conduit to spaced apart conduit boxes;

Fig. 2 is an explosion view illustrating in perspective the parts of one of the connecting devices shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the connecting device shown in Fig. 2 illustrating the parts in fully assembled relationship;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the connecting device shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an explosion view in perspective of a modified embodiment of the present improved connecting device;

Fig. 6 is a side view partially in section illustrating the parts of the connecting device shown in Fig. 5 in assembled relationship;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the connecting device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a side sectional view illustrating a fur ther modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective illustrating an implement used in assembling the parts of the connecting device;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view further illustrating the mode of coaction of the parts shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a modification of one of the components of the connecting device shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Referring now to the drawing and mor particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, two of the present improved connecting devices generally indicated at III are there illustrated in their use to connect the ends I la. and I lb of a conductor conduit length H to the structural walls Ho and l3a of a pair of separated conduit boxes [2 and I3. re-

spectively. In brief, and as best shown in Figs, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, each connecting device comprises a pair of tubular fastening elements l4 and I5, the first of which is provided with a tubular portion I411 insertable through an opening I 2b in the wall I2a. of the box l2, for example, and an outwardly directed flange I40 which is engageable with the wall l2a, at the inner side I20 thereof. The second fastening element or connector part I5 is adapted to be telescoped over the end llb of the cable length I I, for example, and is provided with an inwardly directed flange I5a for butting against the end edge of the conduit and the external side l2d of the wall lZa.

Conduit boxes of conventional construction are universally provided with knock out openings 52b of a standard diameter substantially larger than the internal diameter of the conducto conduit through which the conductors are led into the box. In order, therefore, centrally to position the tubular portion I ia of the connector part I I within the opening 12b, the flange Me is provided with means comprising an inwardly directed annular bead Md for engaging the edges of the wall opening I2b during assembly of the two parts I4 and I5. For the additional purpose of preventing relative rotation between the wall l2a and the part I4 when the two parts III and I5 are assembled, the flange Illc is also provided with peripheral teeth Me for biting into the wall [2a during assembly of the two connector parts.

As indicated above, conductor conduit of the type generally referred to in the trade as Greenfield conduit is sold strictly as a conductor armor and is adapted to have the insulated conductors threaded therethrough on each wiring job. The illustrated conduit length II is of this type and is comprised of a pair of metallic strips lie and lIcZ which are spirally wound with their edges overlapped and interlocked in such manner that a spiral thread He is formed internally thereof. For the purpose of clamping the wall IZa between the flanges I40 and l5a of'the two parts I4 and I5 without using auxiliary clamping facilities, the tubular portion I la of the part I4 is provided with die formed threads III?) of the correct diameter and pitch for threadably engaging the thread provided at its periphery with struck out lugs i l deflningperipheral notches My. These lugs and notches are arranged to cooperate with a clamping tool or implement 25 of the character shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings in drawing the flange I40 into tight clamping engagement with the wall I20.

Briefly, the implement 25 comprises a handle part 25a, an arcuate portion 25b having an arcuate inner edge 250 Of the same diameter as the periphery of the flange I40 and a nose 25:]. adapted for interlocking engagement with any one of the lugs l4f in the manner best shown in Fig. 10 of the drawing. By interlocking the nose 25d with a lug I4f, bringing the edge 250 to bear against an adjacent lug l4 and thrusting against the handle part 25a, the implement 25 may be used to facilitate threading of the connector part I l into or out of the cable end ll'b.

Alternatively, the flange construction shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings may be used to facilitate drawing the flanges 14c and l5a into clamping engagement with the wall l2a. As there shown,

the peripheral edges f the flan e Me are beat outwardly by a die forming operation to provide ears I471. arranged in the form of a square and between which are located the inwardly directed teeth l le. These ears may be engaged by a standard wrench in threading the tubular portion of the part I4 into the end of a conduit length.

In utilizing the described two part connecting device to connect the end III) of the conduit length II. to the wall I2a of the conduit box I2, for example, the tubular part I5 is first slipped over the end Ilb of the conduit II until the inturned flange Ilia thereof butts against the end of the conduit. Following this operation the conduit end is positioned over the wall opening I21) and the other connector part I 4 is inserted through the wall opening and threaded into the conduit end to draw the two flanges lz'sa and I40 into clamping engagement with opposite sides of the wall I2a. During final movement of the tubular portion I ia of the part I4 into the conduit end (such final movement being accomplished through use of the tool 25 in the manner explained above), the bead Md moves within the edge of the opening 12b to center the parts I I and I 5 and the conduit end relative to the opening I22; and also to prevent lateral displacement of the parts It and I5 relative to the wall 12a. As the flange I Ic is screwed tight against the inner side I20 of the wall He, the teeth I le bite into the surface or the wall to provide a locking connection which prevents the part I I from becoming unscrewed.

Referring again to Fig. l of the drawing, the above described procedure may be followed in connecting the end I217 of the conduit length II to the wall I2a of the conduit box l2. In connecting the opposite end Ila of this conduit length to the wall I3a of the box IS, the connector'part I5 is first inserted over the end of the conduit Ila and positioned opposite the opening in the wall I 3a. Following this operation and before the companion connector part I5 is threaded into the conduit end Ila, a pair of pliers or another suitable implement may be used adjacent the end Ila to twist the conduit length II in a direction to unspiral the metallic strips thereof and thus stress these strips throughout their lengths in a direction to tighten the threaded engagement btween the connector part It at the opposite conduit end IIb and this conduit end. With the conduit length ll thus held in a partially untwisted condition, the connector part I5 may be threaded into the conduit end Ila in the box I 3 to the maximum extent possible. After this threading operation is completed, the plier grip on the conduit length ll adjacent the end Ila thereof may be released permitting the conduit length to twist partially back to its normal setting, thereby to tighten the clamping engagement of the flange parts It and It with the wall l3a at the conduit end Ila. Normally, and if the extent of unwind is sufficient, the conduit length will not fully unwind to its normal untensioned condition and hence will act as a locking element to maintain clamping engagement of the parts I4 and I5 at each end of the conduit with the walls I2a and I3a.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing, the modified embodiment of the invention there illustrated is comprised of two die formed metal stampings I6 and H and is particularly adapted for use in connecting an end of a conductor filled BX cable length to the Wall of a conduit box, for example. Since the outer conduit of the cable is filled with conductors and insulation it is, of course, impossible to thread the tubular portion I6a of the part I6 into the end of the conduit. Accordingly, this portion of the part I6 is provided with threads I611 adapted for threaded engagement with the external thread i812 along the length of cable I8. Further, and to limit movement of the cable end I8a through the tubular portion lfia of the part I6, there is provided at the rig-ht end of this part as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, a bead IBb which extends radially inward and is adapted to butt against the cable end and thus arrest movement thereof through the tubular portion Ilia of the part It. Aside from the structural modifications just referred to and omission of the notches and lugs from the periphery of the flange I40, the connector part It is identical in construction with the part I4 included in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Thus, the part I5 is provided with an inwardly di rected bead ltd along the flange I60 thereof having the function of centrally positioning this part and the cable end relative to the opening I9a in the conduit wall I9, and with teeth I6e around the periphery of the flange iBc which are adapted to bite into the wall I9 to prevent relative rotation between the wall and the connector part after a cable end connection is made with the wall I9.

The cooperating connector part I! is also provided with a tubular portion Ila which is threaded as indicated at II'b to adapt the same for threadable engagement with the threads I6b of the part lfia. At the right end thereof, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, the part I6 is provided with an outwardly directed flange I'Ic engageable with the external side of the conduit wall I9. To assist in positioning the parts I6 and I! centrally relative to the opening I9a in the wall I9, the flange lie is also provided with an annular bead Ild directed toward the bead I 601 and of the same diameter. At the periphery thereof the part I? is provided with teeth Me which are adapted to bite into the wall I9 at the external side thereof to prevent rotation of the part I! relative to the cooperating connector part I6. l'nterposed between the teeth He at the periphery of the flange Ilc are lugs i I f and notches I'Ig which are engageable by the tool to produce clamping engagement of the two flanges I6c and lie with the Wall I9.

In general, the manner of using the described connecting device comprises the two parts I6 and I! to effect a connection between the end I8a of the cable I8 and the wall I9 will be readily apparent from the above explanation. Briefly, however, the cable conductors I80 and the cable end are first inserted through the outer connector part I'I, following which the cable conductors I80 are inserted through the wall opening Ifia and then the inner connector part I6. The tubular portion I60, of the part I6 is now threaded onto the end IBa of the cable I8 until the bead l6 clampingly engages the end edge of the cable armor. Following this operation, the tubular portion I'Ia of the part I! is threaded onto the tubular portion Ilia of the part I6 to clamp the wall I9 between the flanges I60 and Ho. Incident to this operation, the oppositely directed beads I 6d and I Id are brought into engagement with the edge of the opening I9a centrally to position the cable end I8a and the tubular portions of the tube parts relative to the wall opening I9a, and to force the teeth I Be and He into biting engagement with opposite sides of .the wall I9, thereby to prevent relative rotation between the parts I6 and I1 and between these parts and the wall I9. Here again, the tool 25 is employed in cooperation with the tool lugs I'Ij of the flange I'Ic to force the flanges I60 and He into tight clamping engagement with the Wall I9.

The third embodiment of the invention as 11- lustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawing is also of twopart construction and is specifically adaptable i'o'r use in making an angle connection between the end 23a of a cable or conduit length 23 and the wall 22 of a conduit box, for example. The cable or conduit length 23 may be either of the BX or Greenfield type. More specifically considered, both parts 20 and 2I of the connector are formed of metal by die forming operations. The part 20 is of generally elbow configuration and is provided at one end with a tubular portion 20 of enlarged diameter having threads therein matingly engageable with the thread 23?) of the cable or conduit end 23a. This portion of the part 26 is integrally connected with the other portions of the part by means of an inwardly directed shoulder 20h having the function of engaging the end edge of the cable or conduit armor to limit movement of the cable end into the part 26. At the opposite end thereof, the part 28 is provided with a tubular portion 20a terminating in an outwardly directed end flange 26c and threaded as indicated at 201). This thread is matingly engageable with the thread 2Ib formed in the tubular portion 2Ia of the companion part 2I to draw the two flanges 20c and 2Ic into clamping engagement with the wall 22. As shown, the two flanges 20c and 2Ic are respectively provided with oppositely directed annular beads 20d and 2Id for centrally positioning the tubular portions 20a and 2Ia relative to the wall opening 22a. They are also equipped with peripheral teeth 20c and 2Ie, respectively, for biting into the wall 22 at opposite sides thereof to prevent relative rotation of the two parts 20 and 2|. Further, the flange 2Ic is provided adjacent the periphery thereof with tool lugs 2If adapted for engagement by the tool 25 to draw the flanges 20c and 2Ic into engagement with the Wall 22.

In making a connection between the cable or conduit end 23 and the wall 22, the tubular portion 20 of the part 20 is first threaded onto the cable end to bring the shoulder 20h thereof into tight engagement with the cable end. Following this operation, the tubular portion 20a of the part 20 is centrally positioned relative to the wall opening 220, with the flange 200 in engagement with the wall 22 at the external side thereof and the tubular portion 2Ib of the part 2I is threaded into the tubular portion of the part 20 through the wall opening 22a. By using the tool 25 in cooperation with the lugs 2| provided at the periphery of the flange 2Ic, this flange and the flange 200 may be brought into tight clamping engagement with opposite sides of the wall 22 to bring the beads 2 Id and 20d within the opening 22a and to force the teeth 2 Ia and 20c into biting engagement with the wall 22.

From the above explanation it will be understood that in each of the three illustrated embodiments of the invention only two fastening parts are required to make a rugged connection of pleasing appearance between the end of a threaded conduit and the wall of a conduit box or similar wire housing structure. Further, in each embodiment of the invention, each of the two parts may be easily and cheaply constructed by die forming operations with the use of a minimum of metal. Moreover, and due to the fact that :only two parts :are required, the "as- :sembly operation on 'a-wiring job :isl'greatly simplified and speeded up.

While there have been described what :are at I present considered to be the preferred embodiments-of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may the :ma'de therein which are within the true :spirit and :scope of the inyention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

.1. A device 5501' connecting one 'end at a metal- "lie conductor conduit comprised o'f interlocking spiral strips formin threaded tubular avail to I a structural wall having an opening therein :comprising, a first sheet meta-1 tubular element having an inturned end flange, said tubular-element closely fitting the outside surface of said conduit with said in'turn'ed end flange abutting against 0 the end of said conduit, and a sec'ondsheet metal tubular element having an outwardly extending end flange, said second tubular element having a threaded tubular portion of such diameter to be insertable through said opening in said strucr 'tnral wall and threaded into said conduit end to draw said flanges of said first and second tubular elements into clamping engagement with said structural wall, said first tu-bular element holding said interlockingspiral strips in position so that said conduit is securely held between said tubular elements.

-2. Adevice in accordance with claim 1 in which said outwardly extending end flange of said second tubular element includes peripheral teeth for biting "into said structural wall to prevent unintentional rotation of said second tubular element with respect to said structural Wall.

HAROLD W. KINANDER.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I ENTS 

